Minstead Study Centre's residential programme
Letting imagination take root
Minstead Study Centre is an enchanting, high quality, nature-based enrichment education experience in the New Forest, connecting children with their environment and sustainable living through residential school trips and educational day visits.
Our unique setting creates a magical learning environment and a relaxed, informal atmosphere for groups of all ages and backgrounds. The area is also an exciting and safe environment for children to explore, play, invent, have fun and let off steam.
The leafy, self-contained 7-acre grounds and gardens at Minstead Study Centre are used extensively during residential courses and provide plenty of opportunities for outdoor learning.
Beyond the environment
Although environmental education and sustainability sit at the heart of what we do, our programmes offer so much more. The Centre exists to inspire lifelong curiosity and wellbeing of students of all ages through immersive experiences in nature. Through shared challenges and hands-on activities, students build confidence, communication skills, teamwork and independence. Above all, we ignite a sense of adventure and foster a lifelong connection with the outdoors.
Facilitated learning
There are lots of features in our grounds to help facilitate learning. These include:
- Meadow and woodland habitats
- Pond and stream habitats
- An iron-age thatched roundhouse
- Fire pit
- Plenty of seating areas
- A large and productive vegetable plot
- Two friendly sheep!
Tailored programmes
At Minstead Study Centre, we tailor every visit to meet the specific needs of your group, ensuring strong links to curriculum topics and key stage outcomes. Our experienced education team works in partnership with school staff to co-design programmes that are engaging, inclusive, and impactful.
We are experts in tailoring programmes to suit all needs and all budgets, so if you cannot see anything which meets your requirements, then please reach out to our team who will be happy to create a bespoke programme for you.
Example timetable
Monday
Lunch
Dinner
Tuesday
Breakfast
New Forest adventure walk
Lunch
Sheep, chickens and gardening
Dinner
Wednesday
Breakfast
Lunch
What's included?
Meals and accommodation starting from lunch on day of arrival to lunch on departure day
Learning outcomes discussed to ensure a tailored programme to meet school’s aims and objectives
A dedicated tutor to support the smooth running of the trip with daily meetings, feedback and reviews
Access to our evening activity resources for school self-led activities
Experienced education team that delivers activities with strong links to curriculum topics and key stage outcomes
Support with pre-visit planning, tailored timetables, and resource preparation
Residential groups are allocated exclusive overnight access to the centre, giving a sense of safety and security
Programmes that support the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy
Pricing
Low season
2 night weekday packages from £142
Mid season
2 night weekday packages from £168
High season
2 night weekday packages from £194
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Nature connectedness
Nature connectedness
Outdoor activities and play gives children the opportunity to learn how to cooperate and collaborate with peers.
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Environmental awareness
Environmental awareness
Taking education outside of the classroom helps students understand their social responsibility, fostering greater levels of care for the environment - supporting them in creating a better planet for their future.
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Communication
Communication
Communication skills are at the heart of social interaction, participation, building relationships, making friends, and making sense of the world around you.
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Self-confidence
Self-confidence
Taking part in a broad range of learning and activities, rising to new challenges, and staying away from home with their peers, helps participants become more adaptable and self-assured, skills critical to their ongoing development.
Why choose us?
- We’re all about young people growing and gaining life enriching experiences.
- Our prices are transparent with no hidden extras.
- We are quality focused, and safety assured.
- We have experience and have been operating since the 1960s.
- We offer support to young people who need additional financial assistance.
Children and Staff have fully enjoyed our visit. The food in particular was a huge hit.